Naperville posed a target for protesters

Organizers cite town's perceived apolitical attitude

July 24, 2001|By Karen Mellen, Tribune staff reporter.

Naperville's perceived complacency on political and social issues made it the target of a street demonstration Friday night that led to the arrest of 17 people, organizers of the event that is sympathetic to the anti-globalization movement said Monday.

Event organizers, however, said the crowd of about 200 protesters--which at times lobbed smoke bombs and rocks at police--proves that such rallies are necessary in Naperville and other suburbs.

"We've gotten a really positive response," said Steve Benning, 23, an organizer who lives in Lisle. "We've got a lot of e-mails from people saying that, despite the fact the police were somewhat brutal, they were empowered by it. Things are pointing to doing something next year."

In September, a similar party attracted only about 30 people. This time, however, possibly because of the sympathy many participants felt for the protestors at the G-8 Summit held over the weekend in Genoa, Italy, many more young people from the western suburbs, Chicago and around the country turned out for the demonstration organized by "Reclaim the Streets."

The grass-roots movement claims to have prompted similar demonstrations in New York, San Francisco and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Organizers said the purpose of such "street parties" is to take back part of the streets, which are the domain of cars, to allow pedestrians and individuals to do what they want in them.

"As a group, we believe public spaces are being replaced by commercial districts," said Randall Morris, a law student at Hamline University in Minnesota who said he was a legal observer of the protest. "The goal was to create a free space."

Organizers said Naperville was chosen as a protest site because of the perceived apolitical attitude of its residents and the chance to raise awareness on myriad issues, such as the anti-globalization movement opposed to the exploitation of Third World workers and harm to the environment.

Terrance O'Reilly, 21, of Naperville said he attended the event to show solidarity with protests against the G-8 summit of industrialized nations. O'Reilly, who was treated for head wounds at Edward Hospital in Naperville after being arrested on charges of mob action and resisting arrest, was critical of the police.

"I believe they were a little excessive," he said. "The cop had me in a choke hold and dragged me in the street. He threw me to the ground. Three or four cops surrounded me, and three different cops pepper-sprayed me in the face."

But Naperville City Manager Peter Burchard defended police, pointing out that keeping the crowd near the pavilion, and away from the commercial district, resulted in no property damage. Furthermore, Burchard said, the content of the group's Web site indicated that the participants expected arrests and clashes with police.

"It was a tremendous effort by law enforcement personnel," he said.

Most of those arrested were charged with mob action and resisting arrest.

From 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, the group gathered near the pavilion along the popular Riverwalk and threw Frisbees, played with a beach ball and listened to music. About 8 p.m., the crowd took to the street, seeking to go east on Jackson Street.

Until about 10:30 p.m., the group continued to spar with police in an effort to gather in the street, eventually throwing smoke bombs and then rocks.

"It went pretty well, considering the size and mood of the crowd," said Police Chief David Dial. "We were able to keep them out of the commercial district. There were some of them who clearly wanted to get arrested, and got arrested."

Benning said he believes police should have allowed the group to gather in the streets instead of ordering the people onto the sidewalks. "The idea of marching in the streets is integral to American history and world history, and something, whenever you're trying to make a point, be heard, the streets are the place to do that," he said.